On January 17-24, 2026, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity took place in Istanbul, and indeed, across the Northern Hemisphere. In Istanbul, there is a slight difference in the dates for this event. This stems from local custom. The commonly accepted dates are January 18-25.
The theme of this week-long event was taken from Ephesians 4:4: [There is] “one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call.” Each day featured a particular spiritual emphasis, entrusted in turn to the tradition of the hosting Church. The liturgies addressed topics such as the calling that all Christians have in common, mercy, peace, hope, faith, and the gift of baptism, explored through biblical readings proclaimed by representatives from the different denominations. The prayer sessions were led by ministers from the various Churches—Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Syriac Orthodox, Coptic, and Armenian—creating an ecumenical journey rich in symbols, liturgical styles, and spiritual sensitivities. The event allowed the participants to experience, firsthand, the variety and beauty of Christian traditions present in Istanbul.
Each day the participants met in a different church (or chapel), belonging to one of the various Churches or Christian communities. In chronological order, these were: the Greek Orthodox Church, the Dutch Union Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church (where our confreres serve), the German Protestant Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Protestant Immanuel Bible House community, and finally the Armenian Apostolic Church. The liturgy was prepared by the local community of believers, revealing an extraordinary richness of diversity, originality, and character in Christian prayer—from ancient texts in Syriac, Coptic, Greek, and Arabic to lively charismatic prayer in Turkish.
During the celebration in our Church of St. Anthony, I presented the local community with an oil lamp commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Spirit of Assisi, the meeting of representatives of religions that took place in Assisi in 1986. During the Liturgy of Light, all those present in the church, beginning with the clergy, lit their candles from this lamp, which itself was lit from the flame of the Paschal candle. Thus, in this candlelight, we recited the ecumenical profession of faith. The entire liturgy had a Franciscan character, as noted at the outset by the principal celebrant, the Roman Catholic Bishop Massimiliano PALINURO, Vicar Apostolic of Istanbul, Turkey.
At this point, I would like to thank the entire community of friars at the Friary and Church of St. Anthony in Istanbul for their extraordinary commitment in preparing for, and participating in, this ecumenical celebration in our church. They are: Friars Michał SABATURA (Guardian), Andrei BEJAN, Andrzej DYLEWSKI, Andrew JEYLAN HOCHSTEDLER, Iulian PIŞTA, and Alessandro RATTI. The entire liturgical setting, the technical preparation, and the agape meal in the parish hall made for an authentic experience of ecumenical celebration.
Let me offer a few words about the project behind this lamp. With the approval and blessing of the Custos of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, Friar Marco MORONI, and with the invaluable help of Friar Giulio CESAREO and others involved in this project around the world, I will continue to present this lamp on various occasions, and at ecumenical and interreligious events, as a sign of our renewal as Conventual Franciscans, during the Spirit of Assisi meeting, the meeting that gathered religious leaders in Assisi, and of the connection between that inspiring event and the challenges we face today in terms of unity, peace, and fraternity. For us Franciscans, the Spirit of Assisi is still relevant and is part of our evangelizing and catechetical mission.
In Istanbul, I presented two more lamps. One went to the Custos of the Provincial Custody of the Orient and the Holy Land, Friar Anton BULAI, for our parish in Büyükdere, Turkey, where on January 28, 2024, a person died following a violent attack in the church. This year, the parish has planned several events to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis; therefore, this lamp will be an important part of those celebrations.
The second lamp was given to His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Patriarch of Constantinople, whom I visited together with Friar Lucian ABALINTOAIEI. I am very grateful to Friar Lucian for organizing the meeting. The meeting with His All-Holiness can only be described as unforgettable. He welcomed us in a fatherly manner, with profound kindness and genuine interest in our lives and our work. Despite his age, he has an extraordinary memory. Even when he wrote a dedication in a book I showed him, he wrote my name without asking me what my name was.
At the end of our meeting, His All-Holiness imparted his blessing upon us and wished us perseverance in our work for Christian unity. This single meeting is by no means the end of our contact with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. I shall remain in contact with his secretary and together we will try to organize more ecumenical events for the future. In any case, our Franciscan communities in Istanbul are well known to the Patriarchate, and relations are considered very good.
As a final reflection, I would like to add that, as we carry out our ecumenical and interreligious activities in the Franciscan spirit, we must always be mindful that diversity is not a sign of incompatibility, but a sign of blessing.
Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow Love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, unity.
This is the Spirit of Assisi!
Fr. Sławomir KLEIN
General Delegate for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue (EDI)
P.S.
During my stay with the friars in Istanbul, I had the opportunity to observe their pastoral work. One day, I took part in the rite of admission to the catechumenate for seventeen adults. It was a beautiful testimony to the commitment of the friars.
